Is Outlook down? Millions report login issues — When will Microsoft fix it?
Login Failures and Mailbox Errors Spark Confusion
Thousands of users reported being unable to log in to their Outlook or Hotmail accounts. Many were met with error messages stating 'something went wrong' or were informed that they lacked a valid license to use the service.
Outage monitoring website DownDetector recorded a surge in complaints, indicating issues with login, server connection, and mailbox accessibility. Microsoft later confirmed the problem, stating: 'Users may be unable to access their mailbox using any connection method.'
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Adding to the confusion, some users reported sluggish performance even when they managed to log in, describing the service as 'painfully slow.' The problem appears to be widespread but isolated to Microsoft Outlook and Hotmail, with other Microsoft services such as Teams, Skype, and Microsoft 365 reportedly functioning normally.
Fix Underway, But Timeline Remains Uncertain
In a brief update, Microsoft acknowledged the disruption: 'We're having issues, but we're working on it.' A later service status message indicated that engineers had identified the root cause and had initiated the deployment of a fix, but noted that it would take time due to the need to follow 'safe change management processes.'
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At the time of filing this report, there was no formal update on Microsoft's social media channels regarding when normal service would resume. The silence sparked frustration online, with many users turning to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to vent.
Global Impact, Local Concerns
The issue appears to be affecting users worldwide. Social media was flooded with complaints from across the United States, Germany, India, and other regions, with professionals and businesses expressing alarm over being unable to access crucial emails.
'#Outlook seems to be down this morning — I'm unable to access any emails. Is there any information on when the service will be available again?' asked a user in Germany.
Another user posted: 'Seems Outlook has been down globally for multiple hours. Can't log in on desktop or web or app. And no word yet from @Outlook or @Microsoft.'
Criticism also emerged about Microsoft's handling of communication. One user wrote: 'Came all the way to X to find why Outlook.com service was failing. There was NOTHING there to tell me.'
No Indication of Cyberattack So Far
Speculation swirled around the cause of the outage, with some questioning whether a cyberattack was behind the disruption. However, experts and Microsoft's preliminary communications suggest the issue may be more technical than malicious.
A similar incident in June had been attributed to a glitch in the Forms Library, which caused Outlook to crash. Technical lapses and problematic software updates have been part of Microsoft's recent history, including Windows firewall issues and update-related bugs in Windows 11.
This time, Microsoft has not linked the issue to any known security update or planned change. Some online speculation had tried to associate the incident with the forthcoming deletion of passwords by the Microsoft Authenticator app in August, but there is no evidence to suggest the two events are related.
Outlook's Dependability Questioned
With Outlook serving millions globally—including businesses, government offices, and academic institutions—the outage has raised concerns about over-reliance on centralized email infrastructure. While service interruptions are not uncommon in digital services, the lack of transparent communication has left users in the dark.
The Microsoft Office Service Health portal currently flags the
Outlook outage
as an active issue, with a message assuring users that the company is working to restore normalcy. However, no estimated time of resolution has been provided.
What's Next for Outlook Users?
As of now, users have little choice but to wait for Microsoft's fix to be fully deployed. Businesses dependent on Outlook for internal and external communication have been forced to resort to alternative platforms or delay operations.
FAQs
What happened to Microsoft Outlook on Thursday?
On Thursday, Microsoft Outlook experienced a major global outage, affecting users' ability to log in, access mailboxes, and use services across desktop and mobile platforms.
Who was affected by the outage?
The outage impacted millions of users worldwide, including individual consumers, professionals, businesses, and institutions using Outlook and Hotmail. Users across the U.S., Germany, India, and other regions reported problems
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